Sharon Cabbage Rose Pink Depression Glass Candy Jar

This week I’m finally listing some of our best glass, the Sharon pink depression glass collection.  We bought this set from a lady who was selling off her glass before moving and I’m so glad we were able to get it.  Her glass is wonderful.

Take this Sharon candy jar.  Vintage candy jars get nicked and beat up from use, especially the lids.  Sharon is more robust than some patterns and this jar has very little damage.  There is a shallow circular nick on the top of the ledge of glass just below the finial on the lid, but otherwise it is in great shape.

The Sharon candy jar has been reproduced but luckily it is easy to spot the fakes.  I bought a fake creamer once and it was obvious as soon as I opened the box that it was wrong.  The molding just isn’t right.

It’s even easier to spot fake candy jars.  The circular foot on the original is 3 1/4 inches wide and only 3 inches wide on the fakes.  Plus that ledge of glass on the lid just below the finial is supposed to be much smaller on the fakes.   The one we have and show in the photo is the original.

The year is winding down and as we look forward to 2011 can I ask a favor?  Could you please let me know what sort of posts you like the best?  That will help me tune what I write to make it better for you.

Shopping Information: Sharon pink candy jar is listed in our store Cat Lady Kate’s Elegant and Depression Glass.  Shopping with us is like antiquing with your best friend.

Georgian Green Depression Glass Dinner Plate

Wow.  Just got some eBay feedback love that was awfully good to see.  I had some Red Wing china and sold the last few pieces a few weeks ago.  Customer’s comment was “VERY PLEASED with Random Harvest cups/saucers! EXCELLENT PACKING, RECOMMEND 5*s”

This was great to see since some of the last few didn’t sound like the customers were as happy with their purchases as I strive to deliver.

Surface wear is the hardest to describe.  What’s bad wear to one person may be minor to another, and exhaustively describing every utensil mark is tedious to read and not helpful.  I usually give the wear a rating, e.g., “noticeable” or “very light” and show a close up.  Even so I believe wear is the item that customers may not know exactly what to expect.

Chips are pretty easy too.  Describe the chip and give dimensions and show a close up.

The other thing I learned to do with damaged glass is to photograph the specific item.  The plate shown in the photo is Georgian green depression glass dinner plate.  It has wear and some icky mold marks but is otherwise in good shape.  Click on the photo expand to full size.    The person who sold it to me described it as mint because it has no chips or cracks.  It’s perception yes, but as a seller I need to be factual and accurate.   It’s hard work but my customers deserve it.

Georgian Dinner Green Depression Glass Worn Wear Close Up

Normandie Bouqet and Lattice Amber Depression Glass Plate

Doesn’t the name Normandie sound fancy?  I did some research to write this post because I thought the name may have been drawn from the famous French ocean liner Normandie, however the vessel was launched in 1935, after the depression pattern production start.  For many years this pattern was called Bouquet and Lattice for its design of – guess what – flowers between trellises.  Normandie is a more appealing name for this pretty pattern regardless of the reason!

Federal Glass made Normandie from 1933 to 1940 in pink, amber and iridescent orange called Sunburst.  I see a lot more iridescent compared to either amber or pink.  Sadly this is a pattern on the scarce side, especially in pink.  Several years ago I bought pink cups, saucers and sherbets at a garage sale and have not seen some since.

The amber is particularly nice and you are more likely to find pieces, even tumblers, and at relatively affordable prices.  If  you like it, the iridescent is quite inexpensive.  Also you don’t need to worry about reproduction Normandie because it has not been remade.

One thing to be careful of with Normandie, as with Federal’s similar shaped Patrician Spoke and Madrid, is inner rim roughness.  You can see the sharp delineation at the inside edge of the rim and that can get nicked if you stack plates without a paper plate between them.  I’ve had less problem with Normandie nicks than with Madrid, but do be aware and check when you buy or ask an online seller to check before you order.

Normandie is a personal favorite and I hope you like it too!

Georgian Lovebirds Green Depression Glass Plate

We just got more Federal Georgian green depression glass and got the first piece, this great lunch plate, listed tonight.  I like Georgian because it’s a beautiful shade of green and the design with birds and flower baskets connected by swags is neat.  It’s one of the patterns I look for and buy when it’s reasonable.

There are lots of patterns called “Georgian” and most have pressed designs of honeycombs.  Federal’s Georgian is the only one I’m familiar with that has mold-etched brids and baskets.

We talked about misinformed concerns about reproduction Georgian Lovebirds depression glass in a previous post.  Remember, this is one pattern that has not been reproduced (at least not as of June 2009) so don’t be worried about whether the pieces have Federal’s mark of an F in a shield.  

Most Federal Georgian does not have the mark, which makes sense with the elaborate scroll design in the center of plates and bowls.  Even most plain-centered piecs like cups and sherbets are not marked.  We have saucers with and without the mark; it simply isn’t important.  Remember back in the 1930s this glass was a give-away item, made cheaply enough to be premiums in bags of flour or at the movies.  Glass manufacturers cranked depression glassware out in large quantities and didn’t worry about little things like perfection.  You’ll find all sorts of small flaws like little bubbles and raised seams, although Federal’s seems a little nicer than some.

So enjoy this very special patterns and put those birds and flower baskets on your collection list!